Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Honored Allies Wednesday: Kenneth Campbell (United Kingdom)

"In recognition of most conspicuous bravery. This officer was the
pilot of a Beaufort aircraft of Coastal Command which was detailed to
attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest Harbor at first light on the
morning of 6th April 1941. The aircraft did not return but it is known
that a torpedo attack was carried out with the utmost daring. The battle
cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the
harbor, protected by a stone mole bending around it from the west. On
rising ground behind the ship stood protective batteries of guns. Other
batteries were clustered thickly round the two arms of land which
encircle the outer harbor. In this outer harbor near the mole were
moored three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships, guarding the battle
cruiser. Even if an aircraft succeeded in penetrating these formidable defenses, it would be almost impossible, after delivering a low-level
attack, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond. This was well known to Flying Officer Campbell who, despising the
heavy odds, went cheerfully and resolutely to the task. He ran the
gauntlet of the defenses. Coming in at almost sea level, he passed the
anti-aircraft ships at less than mast-height in the very mouths of their
guns and skimming over the mole launched a torpedo at point-blank
range.
The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and was
obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before.
By pressing home his attack at close quarters in the face of withering
fire on a course fraught with extreme peril, Flying Officer Campbell
displayed valor of the highest order."